Thanksgiving

Funny how since we got this table in 2006 I have always thought it was small when it came to big dinners when we have friends and family joining us.  There have been years that we have added a card table to it to make more room for guests.  It wasn't until this year that it seemed GIGANTIC! But I am truly thankful that we have a table to eat at, and a roof over our heads and delicious food to eat.  

This is also one of those things we take for granted. While in Korea the red casserole dish barely fit in my oven!  Look how much extra room our standard American oven has! 

Clark was so happy to be able to drink out of the fancy glass!

We totally made too much food also. In fact, the smallest turkey I could find at the commissary was 18 lbs.  It worked out well for us because we saved half of the turkey for Christmas dinner. 

Hiking the Black Hills in December!

Such a treat to be able to enjoy nature in the middle of December AND in South Dakota! Growing up in CA we always had "perfect" weather and often enjoyed Christmas in our shorts and t-shirts. Living in places that have seasons and snow has definitely made me appreciate the "nice days" a ton more! 

I almost didn't bring my jacket because it was so warm at my house, (the 40s have now become sweater weather) but I  ended up needed the coat AND gloves! 

Cool fungus growing on the side of a stump. 

Collecting pine cones to make a fire so we could cook lunch. 

We really weren't that far from the road, but it was so peaceful and pretty here. 

Fire prep. 

Spark!

And we have fire!

Oh wait, let's try that again. 

That's more like it! 

Happy boys!

Love him so much! 

So blessed to have him in our lives and that he make a hike a fun experience not only for Clark but for me too! 

Clark has days that he has to be touching me in some way or another. Today it was having his hand on me while eating. Others it is just sitting next to me, or in my lap.  

Case in point. 

Clint got a little hangry. Clark was having a hard time understanding why Mom didn't get her food first, well after him, but before Dad, but it was a good lesson in teaching him to take care of those in need. 

Beautiful views. 

Caught you! 

Clark turns 5!

Yes I realize the date of this post is Dec. 26th and that Clark turned 5 in November.  Maybe I am in denial that I have a 5 year old now! Also, I haven't had much time to do my blogging like I usually do. But here is to catching up! 

He didn't really know what to do with this. I had to tell him that it was real money from his GiGi and that he could buy a toy with it.

We had a few friends over for cake. I love celebrating birthdays but some times parties seem to drag on, especially when you have a ton of wild children running around. So I wanted to keep it simple and start with cake and open presents and if people wanted to leave after that, then they could, and if people wanted to stay and hang out, then that was great too.  Plus it saved on planning games and entertainment.  Just seemed to work out.

Clark requested a rainbow cake with blue icing.  Wesley wanted cake too! Really healthy for the diabetic gato! 

It was relatively easy to make, just required mixing colors into multiple bowels. 

Complete with fish shaped sprinkles. 

SUGARRRRR

We did a lego themed party. 

Then we were blessed with wonderful weather and got to play outside for a while with our friends.  It was awesome! 

Happy Halloween

Clark wanted to be a spider for Halloween. 

Super easy to make. Black sweat pants, black shirt, 2 pair of dad's socks and something to stuff them with, pack of glow in the dark spiders, face paint, hot glue gun! He wanted to have flames above his eyebrows, and lava flowing down his cheeks. I need to work on my face painting skills, but after I was done, he went upstairs and said with a lot of enthusiasm, "Mom, it looks awesome!"  I also put glow int he dark face paint on, which when it was really dark, it glowed and looked creepy! 

See the spider on the right side? It jumped up and hissed right as Clark got to the door. He screamed, and ran all the way back to me where he hung on to me for dear life! 

Clark running back to me. 

The kid scored. We were only out for an hour and he just about filled his bucket!